Burial apparatus.



UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

WILLIAM SPEAR, OF TYLER, TEXAS.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 673,549, dated May 7, 1901.

Application filed September 22, 1900. Serial No. 80.832. KN model.)

T0 at whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SPEAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tyler, in the county of Smith and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in burial apparatus, and relates particularly to linings and coverings for graves, which are designed to do away with all appearance of earth or dirt in the placing of caskets or coffins in the ground.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved grave-lining as placed in position in a grave, a portion of the earth being broken away to better show the use of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the grave-lining as removed from the grave. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

The grave-lining is made up of side portions 1 1 and end portions 2 2, together with a cover 3. The lining is designed to be adjustable for fitting graves of different lengths, and therefore the side portions 1 1 are composed of telescoping sections, the end sections of which are preferably straight, while the intermediate sections 4 are formed with outwardly-turned end portions 5 5, adapted to embrace adjacent edges of the end sections 6 6. The end sections fit loosely into these folded portions 5 and may be slid therein to form the whole side structure longer or shorter, as may be desired. The sections of the side are suspended by means of loops or clips 7 from a longitudinally-arranged rod, as 8, the ends of which are projected sufficiently beyond the sides to rest upon the ground at said ends, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, so as to support the whole structure upon the surface of the ground. The loops 7 are made to slide upon the rods 8, so that the side sections are adjustable at any time. The inner edges of the intermediate sections 4 are preferably provided with thickened overlapping portions, as at 9 9, to form a neat joint between the meeting edges of the parts. The outer edges of the end sections 6 6 are preferably turned inwardly, as at 1.0, and are also provided with enlarged lapping portions 11, to make a neat joint with the end sections. The end portions 2 2 are provided with suspending-loops 12, which are loosely mounted upon supporting-rods 13, the ends of which project beyond the mouth of'the grave and rest upon the ground for support ing the said end portions. The inner surfaces of these linings are preferably decorated with any suitable designs, so as to make a neat appearance and to avoid all idea of earth or dirt.

In applying the lining to a grave the end portions 2 2 are first located in the grave, their supporting-rods 13 resting on the top of the ground. The side portions are next placed in position, with their supporting-rods resting on the edges of the grave, and their telescopic sections are lengthened so that the end sections 6 thereof bear against the end portions 2 2, thus causing the said lining to completely fill the grave. When the coffin or casket is lowered into a grave thus lined, the grave-lining will be interposed between the dirt and the casket or the box in which it may be inclosed and will prevent any loose dirt upon the edges of the grave from dropping into the casket-box or upon the casket itself. After the casket has been lowered and the usual ceremonies have taken place the cover 3 may be put into position over the top of the grave.

The cover 3 is preferably made of a more or less pyramidal form, its sides being preferably slanted at an angle, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and upon these sides I mount longitudinally-arranged strips, as 14 and 15. These may be held in position by suitable brackets 16 and 17, so that the longitudinal strips will have a space left between them and the sides of the cover. Flowers, bouquets, he. may be inserted between these strips and the sides of the cover, so as to ornament the same and hold the flowers in a nicely-arranged condition while the parties are at the grave. A wreath of any suitable sort, as at 18, may be secured to the side of the top portion, if desired. The wreaths or floral designs may be placed on theto p cover also, as may be found desirable and according to their abundance.

A grave lining or cover of this sort is very' desirable, as it removes the thought of the remains of dear ones being consigned to the earth and prevents the usual appearance of newly-dug graves. The lining can be put in; position before the parties arrive at the scene of burial and may remain until after every one has departed. The lining and cover may then be removed and be kept for use for other burials. Y

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat-i ent, is-

1. A lining or grave-covering comprising; adjustable side and end portions, means for; suspending them in a grave, and a cover for covering the said grave and lining,vand means i upon the said cover for holding flowers and; floral pieces, substantially as described.

2. A lining for graves, comprising supporting-rods telescoping side portions, end portions, and loops or hangers secured to the side and end'portions and adapted to movably engage the rods for suspending the said lining upon the-edges of a grave, substantially as described.

3. A lining for graves, comprising end portions and side portions, the side portions being composed of end sections, and intermediate sections having folded end portions adapted to receive the adjacent ends of the end portions, the structure being such that the parts of the sides may be adjusted to fit graves of different lengths, and means for supporting the sections in the graves, substantially as described.

4. A grave-lining.comprising side and end portions and a cover for closing the top of the grave, flower-holding devices upon the said cover comprisinglongitudinal strips arranged so as to form spaces between them and the cover for receiving flowers, bouquets, &e., and brackets for-supporting the same in position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- WILLIAM SPEAR.

Witnesses: I. N. CRoss, W. E. SITTON. 

